From the desk of our guest writer Rick Manore:

50 years ago, on January 16th, Philosophy Student, Jan Palach, inspired by Vietnamese Buddhist monks, set himself on fire in front of the National Museum in protest not because of the Soviet Occupation nor the quashing of The Prague Spring uprising, but because of what he perceived as Czech apathy and resignation to the occupation.

I was truly proud to have been at Václavské náměstí tonight, the site of his self immolation, for the 50 year anniversary of the act. He died three days later.
A hero and martyr for his and all time.